First Motherless Day
“You’re going to kill me. I just got up, and somehow the door was open. Locked, but not closed tight. All the cats were out. Got Shadow and Daisy back in, but can’t find Rex. Tried the canned food flipping trick—that got Shadow—but not Rex. I’m going back out in a minute to try again. I’m literally in tears. I could have sworn the door was shut tight. And I’m going to be gone for three days! Not like I will be back tomorrow night to look for him!”
“Found him. Stupid miserable cat. Won’t let me near him. Had to lock the other two in my bedroom and leave the front door wide open and herd him back into the apartment. But he’s back.”
“Daisy literally came back in as l went into the living room. Shadow came with the can trick. Rex finally came with shaking the treat container. He was further away than Shadow was. Yeah, in my nightgown and slippers with a can of cat food, and then a container of treats swearing under my breath while trying to sweetly call out “Rex!” With gritted teeth. Some guy came out to smoke while I was doing all this! Probably Rex who opened and everyone else followed the bad boy out.”
I was just laughing hysterically in my dorm in Los Angeles, getting texts from my mom late at night, and mercilessly sending her laughing emojis.
May 17, 2024
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I hope you are enjoying the day up in heaven, playing with lots of cats, getting plenty of rest, binge-watching Star Wars and Star Trek, drinking lots of Coke, and catching up on thousands of books.
This is the first Mother’s Day without you, and it has been difficult, to say the least. Trying to celebrate the holiday as a teacher was incredibly challenging. I had to put on a smile and help my students celebrate their moms, too, because honestly, moms are some of the most extraordinary human beings we get to have in our lives. Listening to my students talk about their moms, the conversations they share, and the love they have for them made my heart feel warm and fuzzy. Seeing their joy brought a genuine smile to my face.
But it was bittersweet. I wish I could have just one more conversation with you. I miss seeing you every day. I miss talking about whatever our hearts desired. I even miss arguing with you and complaining about everything and nothing. I miss saying “I love you.” I miss laughing with you. I simply miss you.
Instead of staying in the sadness today, I want to share one of my favorite memories with you.
In 2019, before I started college and moved from New Mexico to Los Angeles, I was extremely worried about leaving my precious cat, Rex, in your care. There had been a complicated history between you and Rex, and things did not always go smoothly. You even dubbed him the “devil cat,” so that tells you everything.
Well, not even a week after I moved to LA, my worst fear came true. You lost him. I received a frantic text and a phone call at 11 p.m. on a school night. You were panicking and apologizing because you knew I would be upset. I was frustrated at first, but I could not help laughing at the way you described the situation. I had to admire your willingness to do the most embarrassing things to get my “son” back as quickly as possible. You fully embraced your “crazy cat lady” reputation that night.
Sigh. I love you, Mom. Not a single day goes by without thinking of you.
Until then,
Katie
